Mikhail Filiponenko, a lawmaker in the Kremlin-installed assembly, was a former head of the army of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and had been active in the region’s pro-Russian separatist movement since 2014.
Both Ukrainian and Russian authorities reported Filiponenko had been killed in a car bombing early yesterday morning.
Ukraine’s military intelligence service immediately claimed responsibility and warned others serving terrorist Russia would receive similar retribution.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said it has launched a criminal investigation into the explosion.
